Stacked oak barrels in a wine cellar with a bottle rack behind

Grape variety · Red

Cabernet Sauvignon

Late afternoon on the upper slopes of the Simonsberg, with the Banghoek Valley hazy below. The bunches in the rows are small and dark. Harvest is still some way off.

Tokara planted its first Cabernet vines on these slopes in 1996, and the estate still focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. No region in South Africa grows as much Cabernet as Stellenbosch: 2,294 hectares according to SAWIS, as of the end of 2025. Red grapes dominate there anyway, at around 64 per cent of the area. And the blending partners grow right next door, 1,360 hectares of Merlot and 382 of Cabernet Franc.

of South Africa's vineyards, SAWIS, as of 31 December 2025
9.9%
of Cabernet Sauvignon nationwide
8,601 ha
in Stellenbosch, more than any other region
2,294 ha
share in 2018, down since
11.0%

Nationwide there are 8,601 hectares, 9.9 per cent of the vineyard area. The share is falling; in 2018 it was 11.0 per cent. After Stellenbosch come the Paarl statistical region with Franschhoek and Wellington (1,890 hectares) and Robertson (1,230). WOSA says the grape ages well into spicy, complex wines. It is often blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and Bordeaux-style blends are the best-known category of red blends at the Cape.

Kanonkop on the R44 farms old dry-land vines on decomposed granite; its flagship is named after Paul Sauer, who died in 1976. At Delaire Graff on Helshoogte Pass, the Cabernet Reserve 2022 was named Best in Category by Winemag. What to eat with it? Leopard's Leap in Franschhoek suggests rich red-meat dishes such as beef bourguignon or oxtail with its Cabernet.

Our tipAt Kanonkop you walk through the cellar on your own, and the gallery is free. There is no restaurant. For lunch, head to Tokara or Delaire Graff, which both have their own kitchens (as of September 2026).

Cabernet Sauvignon to order

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Cabernet Sauvignon: frequently asked questions

Where does South Africa grow the most Cabernet Sauvignon?

South Africa's largest Cabernet Sauvignon plantings are in Stellenbosch, with 2,294 hectares. The Paarl statistical region with Franschhoek and Wellington and the Robertson Valley follow (SAWIS, as of 31 December 2025).

What food goes with Cape Winelands Cabernet Sauvignon?

Leopard's Leap in Franschhoek suggests rich red-meat dishes with its Cabernet Sauvignon, for example beef bourguignon or oxtail.

Is South African Cabernet Sauvignon usually a single-variety wine?

Cabernet Sauvignon in South Africa is often blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. According to Wines of South Africa, Bordeaux-style blends are the best-known category of red blends at the Cape.